My favourite natural breastfeeding products

This post is a list of my favourite natural breastfeeding products. These are my all-time favourite breastfeeding products, which at some point have been invaluable to me. Many of them I’ve reviewed here on my blog.

Along with natural breastfeeding products, I’ll also show you my favourite general breastfeeding products you’ll definitely find helpful, such as breast pumps.

If you’re pregnant or a new mum wondering what you might need on your breastfeeding journey, this post is for you!

My breastfeeding back story

I’ve been breastfeeding Jonah for almost 17 months now. We struggled at the start with painful latch, and we overcame it together.

My mum breastfed me for a few weeks so had a little experience to pass along, but ultimately I didn’t have anyone to hand on a daily basis for support.

Instead, I used breastfeeding groups and council-funded feeding specialists to support us early on. I also used Facebook breastfeeding support groups.

My favourite natural breastfeeding products

A question I see pop up in Facebook groups all the time from mums-to-be is what are your favourite breastfeeding products?

I’m disappointed when I see Vaseline being recommended as a nipple balm.

Hopefully, if you’re reading my blog then you’re a something of a crunchy mama, who makes healthy and clean breastfeeding product choices!

A pro tip

A tip I wish I’d known at the start about buying breastfeeding products: there’s a lot of advice out there about what to buy, but I would advise holding back until you’re absolutely sure you need something.

Also try before you buy, if you can. Local breastfeeding groups and support libraries are a great place to start asking about products and possibly borrowing things.

Another great tip, if you’ll excuse the pun – is to suck it and see. I was sure I’d want a breastfeeding cover, but after my first public outing breastfeeding, I started to become more confident. Had I bought a cover, it’d definitely been on the shelf unused!

That said, the one thing you really do need at the start, is nipple balm.

Do not scrimp on nipple balm!

Nipple balm

Weleda nipple balm is one of my favourite natural breastfeeding products. It’s organic and contains lanolin, plant waxes, and healing calendula. It protects nipples from damage and helps to heal them if they get sore.

Developed by midwives and pharmacists, this fragrance-free balm is a must have!

Nursing oil

You’ve heard of nipple balm, but have you ever used a nursing oil? This one is amazing! Use Weleda nursing oil with massage to comfort and warm your breasts and promote letdown. This sweet-smelling oil aids lactation with herbs that are known galactagogues, supporting your natural milk production.

Your boobs will feel so comforted and soothed after treating them with this gorgeous oil.

Reusable bamboo breast pads

If you don’t use a silicone breast pump to catch milk on the opposite breast, then use these instead to save leakage on to your clothes. Bamboo is an amazing fabric for absorbency.

These bamboo breast pads are a wonderful natural breastfeeding product. They’re organic, washable, and come in a neat laundry bag so they don’t get jumbled up in your regular laundry. The bamboo used to make them is sustainably harvested, making them a truly crunchy choice.

Breast pumps

While a breast pump doesn’t exactly fit in the natural breastfeeding products category, a breast pump to some is an essential, yet significant, investment. Read this article to decide if you need a breast pump.

Silicone breast pump

I use the BeeMom silicone breast pump for casual expressing when I need some breast milk fast. This pump is amazing for catching milk from the opposite side to the breast you’re feeding on. For me, definitely a breastfeeding essential.

Since the BeeMom pump isn’t available in the US, my recommendation would be to choose the Haakaa silicone breast pump, $17.99 at Amazon.com.

Electric breast pump

For an electric pump, I use the Medela Swing electric breast pump. This pump helped me to increase my milk supply when we’d supplemented Jonah with formula. Milk expressed with this pump can replace entire feeds and is great for expressing for younger, exclusively breastfed babies. This is a pump ideal for daily expressing.

Bottles and cooler bag

The Medela Swing comes with a single Medela Calma bottle. In my opinion, the Calma is a natural choice for a bottle to feed your breastfed baby. Its unique flow action makes your baby really work for their milk, as they would at the breast.

You can get the bottles in a set of 3, or you can get this 4 bottle and cooler bag set.

This cooler bag is awesome if your baby is in nursery, or if you’re travelling and carrying bottles with you.

20 Replies to “My favourite natural breastfeeding products”

It has been a while since I was in your shoes. But I remember feeling defeated that I had to ask for help with something that seemed like it would come so naturally. Eventually, my baby caught on and all was well, even without fancy products. Wishing you the best with your baby!

Ohhhhh I’m so excited to try the nipple oil and the beemum for catching milk from the opposite breast! Two that I have not heard of before and I’m alittle bit of s breast feeding vet! Haha I’m pregnant with our four child and all our children are about 2 years apart so I think I’m going on my 7th year of consecutive breast feeding!!!!! Look forward to trying these thanks so much!

I whole-heartedly second the advice on nipple balm – it took a good six weeks or so with both of mine to get beyond painful latching on, and I definitely would have given up without it. So glad now that I persevered, but at the time it was sooooo painful!